Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Thank you so much for visiting our page! Below, you will find a list of commonly asked questions about Christian and our family!

What is Christian's condition/diagnosis?

Christian's diagnosis is called Tessier (pronounced tess-ee-ay) cleft lip and palate, classifications 3, 4, and 5. Those numbers simply mean the extent of the cleft and where cleft is located on Christian's face. The number classification for Tessier clefts run from 0 being the the midline of the face to fourteen with 4 and 5 being the rarest.

Because Christian's cleft is classified as two of the rarest, this is what makes his case one in about 50 in the world. What all that means is that Christian was born with many parts of his face and skull missing or underdeveloped, including the roof of his mouth (palate), his upper lip, both eyes and eyelids, and a piece of his skull.

Is Christian Blind?

Christian's medical condition pertaining to his eyes is called micropthalmia. "Micro" means small and "opthalmia" means eyes. When Christian was growing in utero, as his eyes were developing, blood flow was cut off and eyes simply stopped forming. We have found that Christian can see lights if they are held up close to his eyes, and that he has that light perception on both sides. We also know that he can see enough to tell if a light is high or low, as he can reach up to grab a light that is high or down to reach a for a light that is low.

Christian can see things like camera flashes, when a light is turned on in a dark room, sunlight, and my cell phone light when he holds it close. He can't, for example, see what is on my cell phone screen, that we know. This small amount of vision that Christian has still qualifies him as "blind" or visually impaired.

Do you do public speaking or appearances?

Absolutely! We would love the opportunity to share with your church, conference, rally, banquet, or show! Lacey has had well over 50 speaking opportunities, including large and small events. The Buchanan family has appeared on shows such as The Doctors and The 700 Club. You can learn more about where Lacey and the rest of the family have appeared by visiting the portfolio section of this website.

As the mother of a severely disabled and greatly loved boy who faces a bright future, Lacey is dedicated to sharing hope, spreading a message of life, and teaching about disabilities. If you're looking for speakers, she would love a chance to tell you about the problems, the opportunities, the surprises, and the lessons she has learned in raising Christian. You can use the "Contact Us" tab on this site to contact Lacey about speaking engagements.

What is Through the Eyes of Hope?

Through the Eyes of Hope is the amazing story of Lacey and her family. Published by Charisma House Publishing and released in January 2017, Through The Eyes of Hope is available anywhere books are sold. You can learn more at www.eyesofhopebook.com

Is Christian Blind?

The short answer is yes! The long answer is this: Christian's medical condition pertaining to his eyes is called micropthalmia. "Micro" means small and "opthalmia" means eyes. When Christian was growing in utero, as his eyes were developing, blood flow was cut off and eyes simply stopped forming. Both eyes are affected very similarly, but we have seen on a CT scan and just by looking at Christian that the right side of his face was more affected than the left. A CT scan showed that Christian's left eye was more developed than his right, and that his optical nerves were in tact. So it stands to reason that if he can see, it would be more out of the left eye.

However, we have found that Christian can see lights if they are held up close to his eyes, and that he has that light perception on both sides. We also know that he can see enough to tell if a light is high or low, as he can reach up to grab a light that is high or down to reach a for a light that is low. Christian can see things like camera flashes, when a light is turned on in a dark room, sunlight, and my cell phone light when he holds it close. He can't, for example, see what is on my cell phone screen, that we know. This small amount of vision that Christian has still qualifies him as "blind" or visually impaired.